US 'May Reveal Understandings with Israel, PA'

Channel 1 says President won't support a unilateral Palestinian initiative but may float a US framework for a future agreement.

Gil Ronen, 22/03/15 21:00

Barack Obama

Reuters

President Barack Obama will not support an independent Palestinian diplomatic initiative to declare a state, but may try to advance a joint American-European initiative for a two-state solution, according to Israel's Channel 1 television.

The American-European initiative, which is to be presented to the UN Security Council, will provide the “contours” of any future agreement, according to the report, which cited sources in the Obama administration. The plan will not include a timetable, but will join Resolutions 242 and 338 as blueprints for a peace deal that the international community favors.

Israel is reportedly opposed to this idea.

The US is also reportedly considering revealing the understandings that Secretary of State John Kerry reached in his talks with Israel and the Palestinian Authority. These will serve as guidelines for future negotiations.

Obama warned Friday that the White House was "evaluating its options" on the Arab-Israeli conflict, and specifically regarding the US's commitment to veto unilateral Palestinian moves at the UN.

Obama said he had spoken to Prime Minister Binyamin Netanyahu on the matter.

"I did indicate to him that we continue to believe that a two-state solution is the only way for the long-term security of Israel, if it wants to stay both a Jewish state and democratic," the president said. "And I indicated to him that given his statements prior to the election, it is going to be hard to find a path where people are seriously believing that negotiations are possible."

Asked whether the US would "continue to oppose Palestinian efforts to gain statehood at the United Nations", Obama added that "we’re evaluating what’s taking place."